Like a queen of retro glamour, Casa Cavia is an eminently elegant place to eat and shop in Buenos Aires.
This breathtakingly refurbished 1920s home with exquisitely designed interiors houses a publishing house (Ediciones Ampersand); a bookshop; a restaurant (Pablo Massey & Prospero Velazco); a flower shop (Flores Pasion); and also a perfume shop (Fueguia 1833).
The front room at Casa Cavia — Photo courtesy of Valiente 365
Combining European and Argentine aesthetics as well as vintage and modern sensibilities, Casa Cavia sits across the street from leafy Plaza Alemania in Palermo Chico – a high-rent neighborhood characterized by the presence of many mansions and embassies. Casa Cavia draws a well-to-do crowd of varying ages.
The idea behind Casa Cavia is a symbiotic relationship among several upscale businesses; however, among the areas open to the public, the restaurant is the undisputed star. Though nice, the bookshop is much less used, and the flower shop, while expertly staffed, is only about the size of a walk-in closet.
Pablo Massey & Prospero Velazco restaurant is regularly open for breakfast, lunch and tea, and it serves dinner twice a week.
While the prices are expensive for Buenos Aires, it's commensurate with the neighborhood, and the quality of the food is evident in every bite.
The cold Winter Apple tea, paired with the pear tartlet, is delicious. The tartlet’s filling is delicate and reminiscent of Paris, while the tea is both tasty and complex.
When dining, you can choose to sit inside or outside. The small room with mirrors and green chairs that faces the street is lovely and quiet; however, the pleasant patio is the most popular choice.
Lined with rocks and low shrubs and populated with round black tables, the patio seating is at the heart of the house, and it's good for groups. The only downside is that diners may inadvertently block the path to the flower shop.
Casa Cavia has a large staff to serve customers and keep the place impeccable. While the service is not necessarily very friendly, they are attentive and accommodating.
Chill, contemporary music plays in the background at a good volume, enough to be heard but not enough to thwart conversation.
In addition to the dinner two nights a week, Casa Cavia puts on other special events like classic film nights fleshed out with cocktails and high-end snacks.
The space appears to be constantly evolving, so watch out for what Casa Cavia has in store for the future, such as art exhibitions.
